FI:DP/LAO/97/007

STS - Field Document No. 5

PROVINCIAL AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

LAO PDR

SUPPORT FOR TECHNICAL SERVICES

Guidelines for Broodstock and Hatchery Management

Based on the work of

Francois Demoulin
FAO Broodstock Management Consultant
5 January - 6 February 1999

THE FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS

Bangkok 1999
GUIDELINES FOR BROODSTOCK
AND HATCHERY MANAGEMENT
by
Francois Demoulin
 CREDITS
Figure 10 is from FAO technical paper ”The transport of live fish – A review” by R. Berka. EIFAC
Technical Paper N° 48. FAO, Rome. 1986.

Drawing of Annex 4 is from FAO Manual “Simple methods for aquaculture –Management for
freshwater fish culture – Ponds and water practices”, by A. Coche, J.F. Muir & T. Laughlin. FAO
Training series 21/1, Rome. 1996.

All other drawings are adapted from “Fish culture in Integrated Fish Farming – Part 1, General
aspects, Part 2, Rearing Herbivorous fish, Part 5, Managing fish component in the farm”, by
Integrated Fish Farming Project. Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Co-operatives – Belgian
Administration for Development Co-operation. Mukdahan, Thailand. 1998.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ........................................................................................................ I

LIST OF FIGURES, TABLES AND CHARTS...................................................................... IV

INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. V

1. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIN SPECIES ........................................................... 1

1.1 SIZE AT MATURITY ........................................................................................................ 1

1.2 METHOD OF REPRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1
1.3 HABITAT AND FEEDING BEHAVIOUR................................................................................ 2
1.4 TOLERANCE OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS........................................................................... 3

2. BROODSTOCK PONDS ................................................................................................. 5

2.1 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................................... 5

2.2 LAYOUT OF PONDS ....................................................................................................... 5

3. STOCKING BROODSTOCK ........................................................................................... 6

3.1 RATE ........................................................................................................................... 6

3.2 SEPARATION OF SEXES ................................................................................................. 6
3.3 SEPARATION OF SPECIES .............................................................................................. 7
3.4 NUMBER OF SPECIES .................................................................................................... 8

4. MAINTAINING BROODSTOCK ...................................................................................... 9

4.1 KNOWING WATER CHARACTERISTICS ............................................................................. 9

4.2 PREPARING THE POND .................................................................................................. 9
4.2.1 LIMING ................................................................................................................... 9
4.2.2 MANURING ........................................................................................................... 10
4.2.3 USING CHEMICAL FERTILIZERS ............................................................................... 10
4.2.4 FILLING WITH WATER ............................................................................................. 11
4.3 FERTILIZING AND FEEDING .......................................................................................... 12
4.3.1 NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................ 12
4.3.2 FERTILIZATION ...................................................................................................... 12
4.3.3 FEEDING .............................................................................................................. 15

I
4.4 MAKING FEEDING EFFICIENT ........................................................................................ 16
4.5 TAKING CARE OF THE FISH .......................................................................................... 18
4.6 TAKING CARE OF THE PONDS....................................................................................... 18

5. CARE DURING THE SPAWNING PHASE .................................................................... 19

5.1 BEFORE SPAWNING .................................................................................................... 19

5.2 SPAWNING ................................................................................................................. 19
5.3 CARE AFTER SPAWNING .............................................................................................. 19

6. PREPARING FUTURE BROODSTOCK........................................................................ 20

7. TRANSPORTATION ..................................................................................................... 21

7.1 A FEW BASICS ............................................................................................................ 21

7.2 ON LONG DISTANCES .................................................................................................. 21
7.2.1 CONDITIONING ...................................................................................................... 21
7.2.2 ANAESTHETIZING .................................................................................................. 21
7.2.3 TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................. 21
7.2.4 RELEASE AT DESTINATION ..................................................................................... 23
7.2.5 BEST PERIOD FOR TRANSPORTATION ...................................................................... 23
7.3 TRANSPORT AROUND THE FARM .................................................................................. 23

8. PLANNING YEARLY AND MEDIUM-TERM ORGANIZATION...................................... 24

8.1 MARKET REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................ 25

8.2 CONSTRAINTS ............................................................................................................ 25
8.2.1 W ATER AVAILABILITY ............................................................................................. 25
8.2.2 POND AREA .......................................................................................................... 26
8.2.3 HATCHERY CAPACITY ............................................................................................ 26
8.2.4 TECHNICAL ........................................................................................................... 26
8.2.5 MANAGERIAL / PERSONNEL .................................................................................... 26
8.2.6 FINANCIAL MEANS FOR OPERATION......................................................................... 26
8.3 CASE STUDY .............................................................................................................. 26
8.4 OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE YEAR ............................................................................ 33
8.4.1 ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................... 33
8.4.2 OPERATIONAL COSTS ................................................................................................... 39
8.4.3 EXPECTED PRODUCTION AND INCOME ............................................................................ 40
8.4.4 PROFIT AND REINVESTMENT .......................................................................................... 40
8.4 MEDIUM-TERM PLAN .................................................................................................... 45

9 ANNEXES ........................................................................................................................ 47

9.1 USE OF DERRIS ROOT FOR KILLING UNWANTED FISH IN POND ............................................ 48
9.2 USE OF ALUM FOR CLEARING WATER ............................................................................... 49
9.3 ASSOCIATION WITH LIVESTOCK FOR POND FERTILIZATION.................................................. 50
9.4 ANAESTHETIZING BROODFISH FOR TRANSPORT................................................................. 52
9.5 EXAMPLES OF OXYGENATION DEVICES ............................................................................. 53

II
III
 LIST OF FIGURES, TABLES AND
CHARTS

FIGURE 1: 1 KG OF YOUNG FEMALES GIVES FEWER EGGS THAN 1 KG OF MATURE ONES. .............. 2
FIGURE 2: SPENT BROODSTOCK MUST BE SENT TO A RESTING POND AFTER REPRODUCTION. ....... 7
TABLE 1: EFFECTS OF LIMING ON POND BOTTOM AND POND WATER. ......................................... 10
TABLE 2: AMOUNT OF MANURE OR COMPOST/RAI FOR FIRST POND PREPARATION ACCORDING TO
THE KIND OF MANURE. ........................................................................................................... 11

FIGURE 3: MIXING UREA WITH WATER BEFORE APPLYING TO THE POND. ................................... 11
TABLE 3: MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF FRESH SOLID MANURE TO BE DISTRIBUTED PER DAY.................. 13
FIGURE 4: MAKING COMPOST INSIDE THE POND....................................................................... 13
FIGURE 5: TESTING THE FERTILITY OF THE WATER. ................................................................. 14
FIGURE 6: FEED ALWAYS AT THE SAME TIMES AND PLACES....................................................... 16
FIGURE 7: A SIMPLE FEEDING FRAME MADE OF BAMBOO........................................................... 17
FIGURE 8: A FEEDING TRAY FOR OBSERVING THE CONSUMPTION OF FEED................................. 17
FIGURE 9: OXYGENATING WATER BY PUMPING IT OUT AND BACK INTO THE POND........................ 18
TABLE 4: AMOUNT OF ICE FOR DECREASING TEMPERATURE. .................................................... 22
FIGURE 10: USE OF INSULATED BOX FOR TRNASPORTING PLASTIC FRY BAGS. ........................... 22
CHART 1: SITUATION OF A TYPICAL LAO HATCHERY.................................................................. 27
CHART 2: TENTATIVE ORGANIZATION OF PONDS USED BY BROODSTOCK AND NURSERY IN THE
HATCHERY. ........................................................................................................................... 29

CHART 3: RE-ORGANIZATION OF PONDS THAT ARE USED FOR BROODSTOCK AND HATCHERY
CULTURE IN A HATCHERY ....................................................................................................... 31

CHART 4: THE EFFECTS OF BETTER CARE OF BROODSTOCK AND INCREASED SURVIVAL RATE
THROUGH GOOD NURSERY POND MANAGEMENT .................................................................... 322

CHART 5: CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES FOR FARM WITH HATCHERY. ............................................ 366

TABLE 5: HOW TO CALCULATE THE EXPENSES ACCORDING TO THE PLANNING OF ACTIVITIES. ... 422
TABLE 6: HOW TO CALCULATE THE EXPENSES ACCORDING TO THE PLANNING OF ACTIVITIES
(CONT.). ............................................................................................................................. 433
TABLE 7: EXAMPLE OF FORM FOR THE PLANNING OF FRY PRODUCTION. .................................. 444
2
TABLE 8: NUMBER OF ANIMALS FOR FERTILISING A POND OF 1 RAI (1,600 M ). ........................ 500
TABLE 9: HOW TO PREPARE ANAESTHETIC SOLUTION FOR TRANSPORT. .................................. 522

IV
 INTRODUCTION
The demand for fish fry in Lao PDR is currently estimated at 60 million per year and is constantly
increasing. Most fish fry produced in the country originate from the Provincial government hatcheries,
which have an estimated annual production of less than 11 million. This shortfall in supply is met in
some part by the production activities of private farmers and more importantly through imported fish fry
from Vietnam, Thailand and China.

Imported fish fry is usually of poor quality and has suffered extreme transport stress by the time it is
stocked into the farmer’s ponds. The lack of choice of species and occasional cheating by middlemen
also makes the purchase of this foreign fish fry less desirable. There is a high premium for fish fry
produced in LAO PDR due mainly to farmer’s awareness that foreign imported fry is of poor quality.

There are few private hatcheries providing fish fry to the provinces and thus the dependence upon
production from the Provincial fish hatcheries remains. The low production from these hatcheries is
due to a wide range of factors, but significant increase in production could be achieved merely by
improvement of basic management techniques.

As part of an initiative to improve the production from Provincial fish hatcheries, LAO/97/007 is
providing assistance in the form of structural improvements and management training.

Little attention has been paid to the issues of broodstock management in the past, since this has not
been considered as being a critical issue. The result has been that the fish used for breeding in the
hatcheries are usually not in an appropriate condition for production of good quality fry. The principle
reasons for this are: poor nutrition, under sized animals, inadequate spawning techniques and possibly
inbreeding problems.

This manual is intended as a guide to hatchery managers and those involved in fish culture activities in
Lao PDR. The emphasis of this manual is placed on appropriate techniques that are sensitive to the
economic and management realities of Lao PDR. The final chapters of the manual are intended as a
guide the effective planning of fish breeding and fry production in hatcheries, together with some
examples of how to assess basic economic parameters essential for the sustainable operation of a
small fish hatchery.

V
 1. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF
MAIN SPECIES

For the purpose of management, the main species used in Lao aquaculture can be classified
according to the following criteria:

• The size at maturity

• The method of reproduction (natural, semi-natural, artificial)
• The location in the pond and the feeding behaviour
• The tolerance of adverse conditions

1.1 SIZE AT MATURITY

Indian and Chinese carp are species that mature at a large size (about 2 kg) and need to be kept for
at least 2 years in the pond before becoming productive. It has already been noted during a previous
consultancy that the young age of grass carp broodstock was probably the main reason of the poor
success of that species in government hatcheries. This large species should preferably be stocked in
large and especially deep ponds – which are not usually present in most hatcheries in Lao PDR.

Barbodes, tilapia and common carp are smaller species that reach maturity in the first year and they
can be accommodated in smaller ponds without any problem.

Reaching maturity does not mean that fish produce already many eggs. E.g. A fully-matured silver
barb can produce 300,000 eggs per kg of body weight. This is the case of a 2 or 3 year old fish
weighing 1 kg or more.

By comparison, four fish weighing 250 g each and thus totalling 1kg will produce 100,000 or 150,000
eggs only because their ovaries are still small (see Figure 1).
This situation is not unique to silver barb but it is true for every species; the weight and age for full
maturity being different for every species. A fish is likely to reach its maturity faster if it is grown in
good conditions (good feeding, no stress, etc)

When looking at the potential production of the broodstock the manager must take the age (size) and
not only the total weight of broodstock into consideration.

1.2 METHOD OF REPRODUCTION

Indian and Chinese carp cannot spawn naturally in culture ponds and their spawning season is
restricted to the rainy season (June-August).

Since they are large fish producing many eggs, these carp have some potential in the Lao situation,
which requires large quantities of fingerlings for a short period at the beginning of the rainy season.
Spawning of these species is not always successful under Lao conditions.
Large Barbodes broodstock are similar in having large numbers of eggs and can spawn between May-
September.

Tilapia and common carp have the capacity to spawn almost throughout the year. Tilapia can spawn
naturally, several times in the year, but only a few fingerlings are produced at a time.

Common carp may usually spawn well without hormones if any kind of artificial substrate (plastic
grass, floating water plants etc) is provided. Spawning can even occur without a substrate. The period

1
of reproduction typically lasts about 9 to 10 months in the year (January – October). This requires that
broodstock of common carp should be sexed early in the season or even kept separated throughout
the year (November-December).

Silver barb (Barbodes) is a case quite similar to the one of common carp. However natural spawning
is much less likely to occur and the injection of hormones to females is usually required for spawning.
They should also to be separated early in the season (December-January) to prevent natural
spawning in the broodstock ponds.

Figure 1: 1 kg of young females gives fewer eggs than 1 kg of mature ones.

1.3 HABITAT AND FEEDING BEHAVIOUR

Not all species live in the same place in the pond and where they live is linked to what they like to eat.

Grass carp and silver barb live near the surface where they can usually find the macrovegetation that
they like. Silver barb can also feed to some extent on the plankton.

Silver carp feed on plankton, particularly phytoplankton that it can find in the medium-top level.
Bighead carp and Catla live at the same level but filter zooplankton more than phytoplankton.

Rohu and mrigal live closer to the pond bottom. They feed on rotting plants and decaying organic
matter on the bottom of the pond. Plankton is also used to some extent.

Common carp lives at the bottom and at the perimeter of the pond where it forages the soil for finding
insects, small animals and decaying vegetation. It is less selective than mrigal and rohu for its feeding.
Tilapia explores all levels of water, filtering plankton but also feeding on insects, small animals, soft
plants, etc.

2
It should be noted that since fish ponds in Lao PDR are almost all less than 1 metre deep, the different
feeding levels probably do not exist.

From all these characteristics, it appears that :

• Fertilisation of the pond, especially organic fertilisation, is important to all species by

increasing the amount of natural food present in the pond. Grass carp is the species the
least likely to benefit from fertilisation.
• Some species have the same feeding habits and therefore should not be stocked together
as they will compete for the food. If stocked together the total stocking density should be
decreased.
Good examples of this are tilapia and silver carp (feeding on phytoplankton), grass carp
and silver barb (feeding on plants), mrigal-rohu and common carp (feeding on the
bottom).

1.4 TOLERANCE OF ADVERSE CONDITIONS

In normal conditions all species are generally resistant to diseases and no real problem of disease
concerning broodstock have been reported so far in Lao PDR. Most species are less resistant when
water quality decreases and especially in cases of low level of oxygen or important variations of it.

Common carp and tilapia are the most tolerant species for low levels of oxygen and more generally
poor water quality.

Poor water conditions will however affect the fecundity of every species and it should be remembered
that over-fertilisation should be avoided to prevent stress to the fish.

3
 COMPARING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAIN SPECIES
Eat mixed Resistance Resistance Disease Maturity
Main natural Eat manure or Eat plants
Species Feeding habit feed or by- to lack of to water resistant (Years)
feed plankton from farm
products oxygen pollution
Plankton / Insects Good Y1
Tilapia All levels Good Very good Good High Very good
/ small animals
Bottom / Good Y1
Insects / animals
Common carp perimeter of Good Very good Very good High Good
on- & in-ground
the pond
Plant material / Good Y1
Silver barb Water surface Very good Very good Very good Medium Medium
plankton
Rotting plants + Good Y2
Rohu Pond bottom Good Good Good Medium Medium
plankton
Decaying organic Good Y2
Mrigal matter and Pond bottom Good Good Good Medium Medium
plankton
Good Y2
Catla Zooplankton Medium Good Good Medium Medium Medium
Good Y2
Big head carp Zooplankton Medium Good Good Medium Medium Medium
Good Y2
Silver carp Phytoplankton Medium level Good Good Medium Medium Medium
Good Y2
Grass carp Grass / Plants Water surface Good Medium Very good Medium Medium

4
 2. BROODSTOCK PONDS

2.1 MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

Ponds should be of rectangular shape, width not exceeding 20 m for easy netting operations. They
must be drainable in order to assist collection of all fish and correct pond preparation (application of
lime and manure). Draining by gravity is recommended.

There should be water inlet and outlet systems for water control.

Water inlets should have a protection/screening device against unwanted fish.

Water depth should not be less than 1 m and should be preferably between 1 to 2.5 m. The main
reason for this is that water conditions should be as stable as possible during the months before
spawning. This is possible if water volume is large. In case of shallow pond the water temperature will
vary greatly according to the air temperature. Weather in Lao PDR varies greatly during the year,
particularly during the pre-spawning period, when there is a succession of cold and warm periods
before the hot season in April. Very warm water (more than 30° C) is also above the optimum
temperature of all species.

Shallow ponds are also not recommended when fish living on pond bottom (especially common carp)
are stocked, because they stir up the bottom mud, making it difficult to develop plankton blooms.
It is often suggested that broodstock ponds should be large. But in practice it is better to consider first
the depth of the pond and then the number of ponds in relation with the number and type of species to
be kept for reproduction. Small well-built ponds can be used for most species and allows better
management e.g. sex separation, feeding and capture.

Grass carp and some Indian carp are however considered to require more space and should be kept
in ponds not less than 0.2 or 0.5 ha.

2.2 LAYOUT OF PONDS

On a sloping site, nursery ponds must be located in the highest areas, grow-out ponds one step lower
and broodstock ponds in the lowest area. The primary reason for this is that nursery ponds must be
provided with the best possible water, without any possible contamination (transfer of disease) from
broodstock ponds to nursery ponds.

This layout may also allow to draining of the nursery ponds (that are well fertilised) into the grow-out or
broodstock ponds, reducing the amount of water and fertilisers needed.
Broodstock ponds should be carefully watched to avoid poaching.

5
 3. STOCKING BROODSTOCK

3.1 RATE
2
A common stocking rate is 1,000 kg of broodfish per hectare, which means 10 kg/100 m . Such a rate
supposes however that fish are stocked and maintained in good conditions:

• Water depth is as advised previously (1 to 2.5 m) and should be kept constant throughout
the year
• Fresh water should be readily available in case of problem
• Water needs to be of good quality, and properly fertilised so that it is rich in natural food
• Fish are given supplementary feed as described in next section

If any of these conditions cannot be achieved for whatever reason, the stocking rate of broodstock
must be decreased.
2
Rates higher than 1,000 kg/m , used in some other countries should be avoided as Lao conditions
concerning pond depth, stocking and feeding are often unsuitable.

3.2 SEPARATION OF SEXES

Fish that do not reproduce naturally in pond can be stocked with mixed sexes. These include the
Chinese and Indian carp. However, it may be advisable to stock the sexes separately in order to take
better care of the females. Females require better quality feed for developing the gonads. Separation
of females will reduce the cost of broodstock feeds, since males can be fed on inferior diet.

Tilapia, silver barb and common carp can breed in the pond and sexes should therefore be stocked in
different ponds for maintenance period.

Ideally there should be two ponds for maturing fish of both sexes and two ponds for spent fish. By
doing this there can be a more efficient use of feed, females being given protein-richer feed.

As ponds numbers are often limited, females and males could be mixed after spawning, but always in
a pond that will not be seined in the next months (see Figure 2).

It may be advised to stock a few (200 / ha) small purely carnivorous fish for controlling unwanted fish
that may consume broodstock feed. Catfish is not advised, as it is too omnivorous. Snakehead fish or
Notopterus are a better choice.

6
 Figure 2: spent broodstock must be sent to a resting pond after reproduction.

3.3 SEPARATION OF SPECIES

Naturally breeding species should be separated. In case of shortage of space, it would be better to
keep the same sexes of two species in one pond than the two sexes of a single species. Such a
system still avoids wild spawning, but allows feeding females of both species with a suitable diet.
Species with different feeding behaviour (silver barb and common carp for instance) will also consume
different natural food in the pond.

The problem when mixing different species is that it disturbs the pond frequently as not all species will
be ready for breeding at the same period. Fish that are seined often will be stressed and be subject to
injuries and loss of scales that will favour the development of diseases. Fish that usually spawn during
the same period should be stocked together, especially if they have different feeding habits.

The problem of disturbance is aggravated in some stations where spawned broodfish are returned to
their original stocking pond. In the following weeks, that pond will be seined again for getting more
broodfish for reproduction and spawned fish, already weakened by their spawning session, are then
re-caught and cannot recuperate. The rule should be that after spawning fish should be stocked into
another pond for reconditioning, where no seining will occur until the next season.

7
3.4 NUMBER OF SPECIES
All the former considerations should lead to limit the number of species present in a hatchery
according to the number of ponds, their size and their water capacity.

No fixed rules can be given here. A reasonable number of species to be spawned should not exceed 3
or 4 in the current conditions of Lao PDR. In some stations with limited ponds areas or problems with
water supply, 2 species should be a maximum. Tilapia can be added as it reproduces naturally.